Senate Confirms First Openly Gay Black Judges

The Senate made history this week with its vote to confirm Darrin Gayles to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Gayles, confirmed 98-0, is the nation’s first openly gay African-American man to be confirmed to the federal bench. His vote came just after the Senate confirmed Staci Yandle to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. She marks some milestones of her own as the first black lesbian federal judge in two decades and the second one in the nation’s history.
President Obama has appointed more female judges than any other president, breaking the record previously set by President Bill Clinton. He has also appointed more Hispanic judges than any other president, breaking the record previously held by President George W. Bush. Obama has also appointed more Asian-American judges than all presidents combined and has nominated 12 openly gay federal judges. Last month, the Senate confirmed the first Native American female federal judge.
in the nation’s history.